Live U.S. Prospects in Saudi Cup Undercard

The powerful American contingent set for the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) on Feb. 26 at King Abdulaziz Racetrack is concentrated heavily in the big race itself but the rich undercard also has some live U.S. prospects.

The list of likely runners for the supporting events announced Feb. 11 by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia is topped by Pinehurst  in the Saudi Derby Presented by Al Rajhi Bank (G3) and runs through sprints on both dirt and turf and the $1.5 million Neom Turf Cup Presented by Jahez (G3) at 2,100 meters (about 1 5/16 miles).

Pinehurst's presence is a reminder that horses trained by Bob Baffert have been excluded from the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) by order of Churchill Downs Inc. In light of that unsettled situation, several Baffert 3-year-olds also are nominated to the UAE Derby (G2) in March.

Baffert's stable is so deep in talented 3-year-olds—including 2021 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) and newly minted Eclipse Award 2-year-old champion Corniche —that his current challenge is keeping them apart as they progress through their races.

Pinehurst, a Twirling Candy   colt out of the Giant's Causeway  mare Giant Win , won his first two starts, including the Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1). He then was fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and second in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) Jan. 29 at Santa Anita Park.

In three of his four starts, Pinehurst has been partnered by Mike Smith, who has his own history in Saudi Arabia, including a massive fine assessed for overuse of his whip in the initial Saudi Cup program.

The field for the $1.5 million 1351 Turf Sprint Presented by stc (G3) includes the Bill Mott-trained Casa Creed  and Richard Baltas charge Ginobili  in the $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint Presented by Saudia (G3).

Casa Creed, a 6-year-old entire son of Jimmy Creed  , scored his first grade 1 win in the Jackpocket Jaipur Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park June 5 of 2021. He followed that with a third in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course, a fifth in the FanDuel Turf Sprint (G3T) at Kentucky Downs, and an eighth-place finish in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) at Del Mar.

Ginobili, a 5-year-old Munnings   gelding, nibbled at the Triple Crown trail in 2020 before retreating to sprinting. He raced in the allowance ranks for the remainder of that season and the first half of 2021 before jumping up to win the Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar Aug. 28.

That was enough to convince Baltas to move along to the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), where Ginobili obliged with a second-place finish after pressuring Life Is Good  in the middle furlongs. He then faded from the lead in the Cigar Mile Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), finishing sixth, in his last start.

The U.S. runner in the Neom Turf Cup, Channel Cat  , a 7-year-old son of English Channel , has been a consistent money maker for owner/breeder Calumet Farm and trainer Jack Sisterson, finishing in the top three in 15 of his 31 starts. His 2021 campaign included a victory in the Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park and a runner-up showing in the Red Smith Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct Racetrack in November.

He kicked off 2022 by finishing ninth in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Presented by Baccarat (G1T) at Gulfstream Park.

None of the Americans has previous experience outside North America.

The fields are tentative and subject to revision.